I adore patterns. There is no quicker way to incorporate a playful sense of style into your look and simultaneously prove you aren’t afraid to take risks. One of the first observations I made upon seeing artist Tanya Schultz’s incredible work, (she is the creator and mastermind behind Pip & Pop), is while her installations are unbelievably detailed, there is undoubtedly a sense of balance and unity within the work as a whole. I started to question why outfits that incorporate bold and extremely colorful patterns can so easily turn into something your grandmother wore in a nightmare you had as a child, and how you can instead, successfully and chicly bring a patterned look to life.

If we take a look at Louis Vuitton’s now iconic spring 2013 collection, we can see that the pattern is centered and balanced along the body and the accessories/shoes are constructed from a color already featured within the clothing. While there really is no right or wrong way to approach anything in fashion, (and I strongly stress this), I do find myself consistently attracted to this approach. When you keep your accessories to a minimum and in a color already found within the pattern itself, it allows there to be a focus and keep the eyes from being overwhelmed by excessive busyness.